You've heard the idea before - earthlings get into space and other intelligent life FREAKS OUT at how much we love danger.
"What is that - smell?"
"Authentic earth food!"
"No, that harsh chemical smell? From that bottle?"
"Oh, that is hot sauce."
"'Hot sauce'?"
"Yup. On earth certain plants developed natural toxins to deter predation. One of the most powerful of these is something called capsaicin. It is a potent pesticide and is toxic to many earth creatures."
"Fascinating. But what does that have to do with 'hot sauce'?"
"Oh, right. See, take the plants with high concentrations of capsaicin and heat them to concentrate the toxins then mix the toxins with salts and acids to make hot sauce."
"Goodness! What is it used for, assassinations?"
"Nah. We put it on our food. We enjoy the way our body reacts to the toxins as we eat them and it enhances the flavors of the other foods."
"WHAT?!?!"
"This stuff is so powerful you have to sign a medical waiver to purchase it. I put it on everything!"
"Humans are terrifying."
humans also drink fermented poison intentional, knowing it lowers physical and cognitive abilities, while doing something dangerous like rafting on rivers.
ReplyDeletePS. they are not aquatic like this anecdote might make you assume. In fact water is a leading cause of death.